Grapple



' A ril 12, 1932.

T. BIRKENMAIER GRAPPLE Filed July'8, 1929 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 air T r are E.

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB TO W. N. MATTHEWS COR- PORATION, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI GRAPPLE qApplication filed July 8, 1929. Serial No. 376,612.

This invention relates to grapples, and with regard to certain more specific features, to universally operable grapples for the operation of preferably large liquid-containing fuse cartridges, switches and the like.

Among the several objects of the inventlon may be noted the provision of a grapple having clutching means for which oscillatable movement is permitted; a grapple of the class described which is adapted to be manipulated from a distance; and the provision of a device of the class described which has a minimum number of parts. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated one of various possible embodi ments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention; and,

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Similarreference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, there is illustrated at numeral 1 an extension handle preferably formed of some insulating material such as wood or fibre. Upon the extension handle 1 a sleeve 5 by means of a screw 3 is permanently mounted, said sleeve 5 being constricted in diameter at its upper to end 7. The upper end of the constricted portion 7 is substantially closed.

Movably mounted on said constricted portion 7 is a body member 9. This body 9 is formed in the shape of a cap with two extending arms 11 mounted on the top of the cap diametrically opposite each other.

Swiveled between said brackets 11 is support 13. The support 13 is held to the brackets 11 by means of screws 15, and is secured in position frictionally by means of friction washers 17 The lower portion of the-support 13 has therein an open chamber 19 for accommodating a universal joint 21 which will be described hereinafter. edges 23 of the support 13 are adapted to support a pair of claws or fingers.

Passing centrally through the closed top portion of said sleeve 5 is an opening 27 which is adapted to snugly receive a rod 29. The rod 29 is keyed or pinned to the sleeve 5 with a key 31.- It will be seen that the rod 29 is immovable with respect to the sleeve 5.

The pin 29 passes from the constricted upper portion 7 of the sleeve 5 through an opening 33 in the cap-shaped body 9. AffiXed to the upper end of said rod 29 is one element 35 of said universal joint 21. The other element 37 of the universal joint 21 has afiixed thereto a threaded pin 39. The pin 39 passes through an opening 41 in the support 13. It will be seen from the above that the universal coupling 21 comprises a Hookes coupling and that the center of swing of this joint 21 is the center line of the swing of the support 13 on the pins 15.

The claws or fingers 25 are hinged together at their lower ends by means of a pin 43. Also aflixed to said pin 43,movably with respect to either of said claws 25, is a draw nut 15. The draw nut 15 engages said threaded pin 39.

The construction of the claws or fingers 25, is illustrated both in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen that the claws 25 comprise bent fingers with flat interior surfaces and an eX- terior surface characterized by a centrally located rib 17. Slots 19 are provided in the support 13 to accommodate the rib 47 when the claws are opened and closed.

The body 9 is held longitudinally tothe sleeve 5 by means of pins 51 permitting rotative movement but preventing longitudinal movement.

It will be seen that the body portion can be adjusted at an angle with respect to the sleeve 5 andbody 9, frictional effect of the screws 15 permitting this.

It will also be seenthat the claws or fingers 25 can be closed and/or opened by twist- The upper ing the extension handle 1., thereby actuating the threaded portion 39 to draw up and/or push away the draw nut 6L5 and consequently close or open the claws or fingers 25. It will be seen that the sides 53 of the claws 25 react against the top portion 28 of the support 13 when the draw nut 45 is actuated, to move the fingers 25 nearer together or farther apart as the case may be. A collar 16 on screw 39 receives the end thrust due to drawing shut the claws.

The device is operated as follows:

The claws 25, relatively far apart, are placed about a fuse or the like to lB'IQIHOVQLl. The grapple may be angularly adjusted to the most convenient position for removing the fuse. The extension handle 1 (includ ing sleeve 5) is now given a twisting movement (to the right in the present embodiment), causing the threaded pin 39 to draw the nut 45 downwardly and thereby bring the claws 25 closer to each ther, thus gras the fuse. Reaction occurs at the collar or flange 16. The twisting motion is continued until the fuse is held firmly between the claws 25. The fuse may then be easily re moved by proper force applied at the handle 1.

It is to be noted that the universal joint 21 permits a rotating motion of the extension handle 1 to be transmitted to the threaded pin 39, regardless of what angular positioning exists between the body 13 and said extension handle 1. it is to be noted that the cross pin 18 of the lllllYQlFzfil joint positioned on or near the center line of the swivel screws 15 in order to conform to the requirement that the mechanical center of the universal joint on Hookes coupling 21 be substantially on said center line.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The grapple which comprises a pair of claws hinged together, means for actuating said claws comprising a drawscrew, a support for said claws, a body portion rotatably hinged to said support on a predetermined center line, a handle rotatably aflixed to said body portion and a I-Iookes coupling in said support and said body portion driven by said handle for turning said screw, the mechanical center of said coupling being substantially on said center line.

2. The grapple which comprises a pair of claws hinged together, means for actuating said claws comprising a draw-screw, a support for said claws, a body portion rotatably hinged to said support on a predetermined center line, a handle rotatably alfixed to said body portion and a Hookes coupling for turning said screw, the mechanical center of said poupling being substantially on said center 3. A grapple comprising a pair of hinged claws, a draw-screw for operating said claws, a support for the claws adapted to cause said claws to move toward and away from one another upon relative motion being efi'ected between the claws and the support, means preventing relative twist between the claws and support when said draw screw is turned, a body portion rotatably hinged to said support on a predetermined center line, a handle rotatably supported with respect to said body portion but not longitudinally movable there on, a Hookes coupling driven from the handle and driving the draw-screw, the mechanical center of the coupling being substantially on said center line and a reacting collar for relieving said coupling of end thrust when the claws are closed.

i. A grapple comprising a pair of hinged claws, a draw-screw for operating said claws, a support for the claws adapted to cause said claws to move toward and away from one another upon relative motion being eifected between the claws and the support, means preventing relative twist between the claws and support when said draw screw is turned, a body portion rotatably hinged to said support on a predetermined center line, a handle rotatably supported with respect to said body portion but not longitudinally movable thereon, a Hoolres coupling driven from the handle and driving the draw-screw, the mechanical center of the coupling being substantially on said center line.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 5th day of July, 1929.

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER. 

